Extension device for articles of jewelry



W! I6, Y1935. .1. J. FRANKLIN, JR l,997723 EXTENSION DEVICE FOR ARTICLESOF JEWELRY Fild Nov. 4, 1953 aww/mud 5 for varying its size in use.

Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITEDSTATES PATENT dOFFICE EXTENSION DEVICE FORARTICLES OF JEWELRY Joseph J. Franklin, Jr., Orange, N. J.

Application November 4, 1933, serial No. 696,733

3 Claims.

This invention is directed to an extension device for use inan articleof jewelry designed for use as either a ring or bracelet and having thecapability of simple and convenient adjustment The primary objectof theinvention is the provision of an extension device made up of exiblyconnected sections, one or more of which is constructed to permitdiametric enlargement ofthe article, while maintaining itsendless` form,with such section` orsections serving as Ya means for locking the partsin final connected form after the article has been applied.

'I'he invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure lis a view in front elevation of the article here shown as aiinger ring.

Figure 2 is an edgeview of the same.

vFigure v3 is an `enlarged broken longitudinal section of the ring.

YFigure 4 is a perspective yView illustrating the use of the lockingsection, the section being shown open and the ring distended to thelimit permitted by such opening.

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view illustrating theadjusting section and its connection with adjacent sections, whereby thesize of the ring may be Varied and maintained in such adjustment atwill. e

Figure Gis a modiiied form of adjusting section.

The article forming the subject-matter of this invention, here shown asa ring, is made up of what may be termed ornamental sections I,adjusting sections 2, and locking sections3. These sections may be madein any desired external conguration and ornamentation. For examplathesections i maybe `made in skeleton outline of ornamentalconguration,While the adjusting-.sections 2 may be formed or otherwise provided forthe reception of precious stones or other ornamentation. The inventionis not concerned with the character or degree of ornamentation and ismentioned merely to indicate the fact that the adjustingsections arepeculiarly and particularly formed toaccommodate gem-receiving recessesor otherwise Vto receive precious stones.

The ornamental sections I as shown terminate at each end' in a cross bar4 which extends betweenl the otherwise unconnected side bars 5. All ofthe sectionsl, 2 and 3 are', of course, curved in longitudinal plane inorder that together they may form a ring-like body. The cross bar 4 ispreferably, though not necessarily, of triangular form incrosssection,the apex vii or narrowest portion of the cross bar being toward theconvex side, i. e. the outer side, of the section i.

The adjusting section 2 is made up of a solid bar-like member l, thewidth of which is substantially equal to the length of the free portion`of the bar d. The section 2 includes longitudinally spaced notches 8arranged atthe respective ends and at the relatively inner side of thebar 1, and integral with the bar 'l through a neck 9 are spring stripsIU which extend in opposite directions from the neck andrunderlie andact as spring closures forl the respective sets of notches 8.

Obviously, by mere displacement of a particular one or both of thespring strips Iii, the bar i may be seated in either notch 8 at therespective ends of the adjusting section 2, the spring strip thereafterserving to hold the bar in the notch in which it has been seated. Themovement of the adjusting section with respect to the ornamental sectionwill be assisted by the wedgeshaped formationof the bar 4, as the apexend of such bar. may be readily forced betweenthe spring strip IIJ andthe lower surface of the bars 'I to displace the spring to the extent ofpermitting the bar to be moved from the outermost notch to the innermostnotch. In the return adjustment, if necessary, the spring strip Hl maybe displacedby slight pressure on the ornamental section l and thenmoving the bar from the innermost to the outermost notches. s

By the use of the adjusting section, therefore, the diameter or size ofthe ring may be permanently adjusted within the limits permitted by therespective notches 8.-r It is understood, of course, that the Vinventionis without limitation as to the number of adjusting sections that may beused, as it is contemplated that the adjusting sections in any one ringformation may provide for a very considerable increase or decrease inthe size of the ring, and such adjusting sections may, if desired, beusedl alternately with the ornamental sections, as illustrated in Figurel.

This arrangement of using the adjusting sections alternately with theornamental sections is particularly desirable where the adjustingsections are used as the means for receiving and positioning preciousstones or other similar ornamentation to be applied to the ring, for itis quite obvious that with the adjusting sections used alternately withthe ornamental sections, the size i `adjustment of the ring may beaccomplished by manipulating one alone of the adjusting sections or morethan one, as may be desired.

It is to be further noted that the adjusting sections are preferably ofincreased thickness with respect to the ornamental sections, a provisionwhich enhances the artistic value of the ring, particularly where theadjusting sections are used for the reception of precious stones and thelike, as under these circumstances the ornamental stones stand outbeyond the surface of the ornamental sections, as will be obvious.

The ring includes the locking section 3 interposed between twoornamental sections. In the instance illustrated, the locking section 3is permanently coupled to an adjacent ornamental section and designed tobe adjustable without separation from the remaining adjacent ornamentalsection. 'I'he locking section proper comprises spaced bars IIconforming in size and curvature approximately to the size and curvatureof the adjusting section 2, but preferably somewhat greater in lengththan the adjusting sections.

'I'he bars II are formed at one end with a pivot pin I2 on which betweenthe bar sections through the medium of a sleeve I3 is mounted a lockingbar I4. The pins replace the pin 4 in the ornamental section immediatelyadjacent that particular end of the locking section, so that the lockingsection and the adjacent ornamental section constitute a unit, althoughthe parts are relatively movable through their pivotal connection. 'I'hebars II are longitudinally slotted at I5 and slidably receive a pin I6on which, between the bars and through the medium of a sleeve I1, isconnected a plate I8, the opposite end of which is pivotally mountedthrough the medium of a sleeve I9 on the pin 4 of the adjacentornamental section 2. The bars II are spaced apart commensurate with theinterior spacing oi the bars making up the ornamental sections, and suchbars II are terminally formed with recesses 20 which, in the lockedposition of the parts to be later described, have rotative bearing onthe sleeve I9. 'I'he free terminal of the locking bar I l is in the formof a curved lip 2I adapted through its curvature to interfit with thesleeve I9 when the parts are in locking position, the lip 2| thusserving in effect as al hook.

In the use of the locking section when desiring to materially increasethe size of the ring to permit it to be conveniently applied to thefinger, and assuming the locking bar I4 open, as illustrated in Figure4, the locking section and the adjacent ornamental section 2 may bematerially separated to a distance equal to the length of the plate I8,the latter moving in this separation to the limit of the slots I5 in thebars I4. After the ring has been placed on the finger, the lockingsection is moved toward the adjacent ornamental section 2, the plate II,or more particularly the terminals of the pin I6, sliding in the slotsI5 until the notched ends 20 of the locking section cooperate with thesleeve I9 of the plate I8. In this adjustment of the parts, the hookedlip 2I of the locking bar I 4 is in position to engage over the sleeveI9, and when placed in this position secures the locking section andadjacent ornamental section against endwise separation and inimmediately adjacent relation.

The locking bar I4 may, if desired, be provided with a shoulder 22 bywhich the locking bar may be conveniently removed from the sleeve I9when unlocking the parts for the distention of the ring. Of course,following the release of the locking bar, the sleeve I9, locking sectionand adjacent ornamental section may be readily separated to the extentpermitted, thus increasing the normal size of the ring in order topermit it to be conveniently applied or removed. It is to be furthernoted that in the use of the locking section to permit increase in thenormal size of the ring for application or removal of the ring, theendless condition and relation of the sections of the ring is maintainedand that the ring as such is not broken or interrupted at any part inorder to permit of this operation.

It is, of course, understood that the construction herein described maybe applied to any ornamental ring-like piece of jewelry, and asconstructed permits a substantial permanent adjustment of the size ofsuch piece of jewelry and at the same time affords its temporaryincrease in size in order to permit convenient application and aconvenient succeeding decrease in size to normal diameter in a simpleand convenient manner. 'Ihere is no restriction intended by the abovedisclosure as to the character of the respective sections other than asdescribed.

It is quite obvious that, if desired, all of the sections may be formedfor the reception of precious stones or the like or such sections may bemade plain or ornamented by engraving or otherwise constructed withinthe purview of this invention. Furthermore, while it is preferred thatthe adjusting sections alternate with the ornamental sections, this isnot an actual necessity and one or more of the adjusting sections may beused, for it is quite apparent that the use of additional adjustingsections when considered solely from the standpoint of adjustment merelypermit a greater variation in the more or less permanent size of thering or other article.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 6, the adjusting section,here indicated at 2', is provided with a body portion 1, from whichdepends the neck 9', and under which body portion is arranged springplates' I0', the latter projecting laterally from the neck. In thismodified form, the notches, indicated in the preferred form at 8 andshown in the body "I, may be formed in the spring plate, such notchesbeing indicated in Figure 6 at 8'.

It is apparent that, if desired, the adjusting sections, either as solidsections or formed as described, may be used in connection withornamental sections, which ornamental sections are modified to show thenotches and spring plates now described in connection with the springsections in order to permit of additional adjustment. This constructionis an obvious one from the details already described and does notrequire further illustration herein.

No claim is made herein to the adjusting sections, as such form thesubject-matter of a copending application led June 14, 1934, Serial No.730,660.

I claim:

1. In a ring made up of flexibly connected'sections, an extension deviceto permit a temporary increase in the circumferential length of the ringto permit it to be conveniently positioned and removed, said extensiondevice including longitudinally slotted side bars, a locking barpivotally mounted at one end of the side bars and having its free endformed with a locking lip, and an extension plate having one end mountedin the slots of the side bars, the other end of the extension platebeing connected to an adjacent ring section, the lip of the locking barcooperating with the connection between the plate and adjacent ringsection to secure the parts in ringforming relation, said plate, whenthe parts are in ring-forming relation, being positioned between theside bars, the release of the locking lip of the locking bar permittingthe plate to move in the slots of the side bars to extend the overallcircumferential length of the ring.

2. An extension device for rings, bracelets and the like, includinglongitudinally slotted side bars, a locking bar pivotally connected atone end to one end of the side bars and formed at its free end with alocking lip, a plate slidably supported at one end within the slots ofthe side bars, and a pin connecting the opposite end of the plate withan adjacent ring section, the relation of the parts permitting thelocking lip of the locking bar to interlock with said pin when 'theplate is positioned between the side bars and at its limit of movementtoward the connection between the side bars and locking bar.

3. An extension device for rings, bracelets and the like, including amember made up of parallel side bars, a locking bar pivotally mounted atone end to one end of the side bars, the free end of the locking barbeing formed with a locking lip, a pin slidably mounted in the slots ofthe side bars, a plate swingingly mounted at one end on said pin betweenthe side bars, a connection between the opposite end of said plate andan adjacent ring section, the length of the plate being such that whenthe plate is at its limit of movement toward the connected end of thelocking bar and the side bars, the locking lip will engage theconnection between said plate and the adjacent ring` section to maintainthe ring at its minimum circumferential length, the release of the lipfrom the connection between the plate and adjacent ring sectionpermitting the plate to move longitudinally of the side bars to thelimit of the slots' to provide the maximum circumferential length of thering.

JOSEPH J. FRANKLIN, JR.

